Liquid-soap dispenser



Patented May 25, 192s.

AUNITI-:D STATES GABRIEL A. BOBBICX, l' LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA; MARY E. yBOBR'ICK SPECIAL AD- MINISTRATBIX 0F SAID GABRIEL A. BOBRICK, DECEASED.

LIQUID-SOAP DISPENSER.

This invention relates to apparatus for dispensing 'measured or predetermined quantities of liquids. It is' an improvement on Vthe liquid soa dispenser for which 'Letters Patent have been granted to me on O otober 26, 1915 Number 1,158,166, and is' A particularly a apted for dispensing liquid soa Atorias in sleeping cars, clubs, hotels andthe like Where 'from a single reservoir, whichmaybe located at a distance from the dispensers, a 4number of dispensing -devices are to be supplied with liquid soap either by l A gravity or pressure, and where the supply tubes 'or channels connecting the reservoir with the dispensers are extended horizontally as well 4as vertically or bentinv curves whereby'theliquid is required to iow from the reservoir to the dispensers ynot only downwardly, horizontally, and upwardly but also forming what may be' termed pockets or traps in the tubes or channels between valve portions always Vactive to close its re-` 'spectiv'e port.

Other objects are to provide means that would prevent leakage from the discharge nozzle when the dispenserl is at rest and to.

prevent a continuous flow of liquid rom'the' nozzle when the dispenser is. in operation.

Another object is to simplify. the construction of the parts so that all such arts could be made by automatic screw mac ines from solid rods and thereby avoid the use of lcostly castings which at times contain many sand holes `and are diicult and costly to ma- 'chine and polish.

In the drawings Figure 1 .is-a perspective 'view-of an installation of the soap dispensers herein de scribed. l

Fig. 2 is a central vertical section through one of the dispensers, the parts being in normal position. i

- Fig. 3 is a similarsection showing the parts in partially operated position,

in public lavatories such4 as the lava- Fig; 4 is a similar section showing the parts'in fully operated position.

Fig.y 5 is a detail section of the valve member.

Fi 6 is a central vertical section of a modified" form of dispenser showing the parts in normal position.

Fig. 7 is a similar section showing the parts in fully operated position, and

Fig. 8 is a central vertical section showing asecond modified form of dispenser.

The apparatus iin the form shown in Figs. 1 to 4 Inclusive comprises a liquid supply reservoir 1, a tube 2 leading therefrom, threaded nipples 3 leading from said tube, and threadedehollow bodies '4 screwed upon said nipples. Each of said bodies 4 may be provided with. suitable means, such as aflange 5., for securing it to a support or wall 6, by means of screws?.

The'threads on the nipples 3 and in the bodies 4 are preferably of the standard tapered type known 'as pi e. threads.

The hollowspace inthe ody 4 is divided by a partition 8 into two chambers 9 and 10 connected by a port or passage 11.

The body 4 is shaped to form a casing or housing, adapted to accommodate the'operatin "or valve mechanism of the dispenser. e valve mechanism comprises a valve bodyV 18 provided with two axially arranged communicating bores, 19 and 20 of different diameters. The outer end of the body 4 is threaded internally and the valve body 18 has a; threaded -portion adapted .'to engage therewith, a gasket 17 of suitable material being interposed between'the'parts to prevent leakage. The larger bore 19 accommodates a valve-head 21 which may be made to lit piston tight in said bore, and the smaller bore 20 accommodates a valve stem 22.

The valve body 18 is provided with a nozale-23 and an outlet 24 leading from the bore 20 through said nozzle.

The cylindrical wall of the bore 19 is perforated'or slotted as shown at 25, and the end wall is shaped or surfaced to form a valve-seat 26. The space between the perforations 25 and the seat 26, I term the charge or displacement chamber 27.

The valve-head 21 is preferably tapered at itsouter end, as shown at 28, from which tapered portion the valve stem 22 extends and bears at one end against the valve head 21 and at the other end against the partition -8. The hub 29 on the valve head 21 and a hub on the partition hold the spring A -inv cent-ral' position.

The valve-stem 22, at the end adjacent to the tapered portion 28 .of valve-head 21, is provided with' an annular groove adapted` to hold a disk or washer 35, made of sheet rubber or' other suitable material.' This washer 35 seats on the valve seat 26 and serves as a packing between the valve head 21 andl the valve-seat '26 when said valve head-is held in normal closed position by the force of the spring 32. The disk'35 travels with the `valvehead when the dispenser is operated, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4.

The valve stem 22 at its inner end is pro vided with an annular recess forming an annular discharge chamber 36. The inner unrece'ssed portion of the valve stem 22, which I term the hub 37, lits snugly but slidably in the borev 20 and serves as a plug for closing communication between the chamber 27 and the chamber 36 for a limited distance 'of the inwa-rd stroke of the valve stem. The

width of the hub 37 is slightly in excess of the distance between the face of the hub 33 of the partition 8 and the base of the tapered portion ofthe valve-plug 30, so that no liquid can pass from the chamber 27 into the discharge chamber 36 when the valve stem 22 Iis slightly pushed inwardly, and before the valve plug 30 fully closes the port 11. The

' discharge chamber 36 is always in communi i port 11 on its outward stroke; and the other function is that of a plug valve to prevent, during a specific period, communication between the chamber 27 and the outlet port on the inward stroke of the stem, after the raising of the valve head 21 from the valve seat 26,- but before the plug valve 30 has fully closed the inlet port 11, and alsoafter the port 1l is opened, but before the va'lve head weeen? 21 is fully seated on the valve seat 26 onthe outward stroke of the stem. This structure provides a compound valve which controls the supply port 11 andthe discharge port 24 in. aA predetermined sequence.

To prevent possible leakage of liquid from the chamber 27 into the chamber 36, because of wear of the hub 37 or the wall of the bore, when the valve stem 22 is slightly pushed inwardly and before the port 11 is fully closed by the plug-valve 30, the hub 37 may be'provided with an annular groove in which a ring 39 made of rubber or other suitable material, is seated to serve as a packing.

The outer end of the valve stem'22, which also litsy snugly but slidably in the bore 20, may also be provided with an annular groove and a packing 43 to prevent possible leakage to the exterior of the valve body when the dispenser is operated. The packings 39 and 43 may be replaced when worn out.

The end of the valve stem 22, which is preferably of a reduced diameter, is threaded externally to receive a push button 45, and to prevent an accidental unscrewing of the push-button a set screw 47 is provided.

To prevent the accidental unscrewing of the valve body 18 from the main body4, also to provide means for expelling. the air from the dispenser and supply pipes connecting the dispenser with the supply reser' voir, also to permit the drainingr of the dispenser, I provide a threaded drain port in the body 4 at the lowest point of the chamber 10, adapted to receive a set-screw 49. The end of the set-screw enters into an annular groove 50 provided on the inner portion of the valve body 18, and holds said valve body `firmly in position.

The reservoir 1 is provided with an open ing at the top for filling it, and has a cap 52 for closing the opening. It may also be provided with a drain cock 53, and a gauge glass 54, the latter for indicating the leve] of the liquid in the reservoir.

The operation of the apparatus, assuming that `itis installed for the dispensing of liquid soap, is as follows:

When the apparatus is installed and the reservoir 1 is filled with liquid soap, the set screw 49 is loosened ors-taken out, thus establishing dir tect communication between the in'terior of the reservoir 1 and the outside through the pipe 2, nipple 3, chamber 9, .port 1 1, chamber 10, and the drain port. The liquid in the reservoir, by gravity, expels the `air :trom the pipes and the dispenser, and when liquid shows itself at the drain port the set screw 49 is screwed into use. It is understood, however, that the process of expelling the air is necessary `only atv the beginning.

. A person.

position, and the apparatus is ready for desiring a supply of liqld S05-"B i130 the outlet port.

presses the push button 45 inwardly, thus pushing the valve stem 22 inward y and thereby unseating the valve head 21 from the valve seat 26.

At this sta e of the operation while the port 11 is sti open, the .passage of liquid from the chamber 10 into the annular chamber 27 is prevented by the valve head 21 which lits piston tight in the chamber 27, and the hub 37 on the stem 22 prevents passage of liquid from the chamber 27 to A further advance of the valve stem inwardly causes the plug valve 30 to close the port 11, at the same time the valve head 21 enters the slotted portion of the bore 19 and the hub 37 vacates the bore 20, thus establishing communication between the chambers 10 and the outlet 24 through the perforations 25, chamber 27 andA the bore 20.' A further advance of the valve stem inwardly will force liquid out through the opening ,24; The volume 'of liquid expelled equals the 'volume of that part of the valve stem, known as the plunger, which enters the charge chamber 27 after the port l1 has been closedby the valve plug 30, less the volume of liquid equal that p irtion of stem 30 which enters port 11. It will be noted that the port 11 is closed before the discharge port 'is opened, thereby interrupting a direct communication between the liquid supply port and the discharge port at any position of the stem.

When the operator releases the pressure on the push button the spring 32 forces the valve head 21 and its stem 22 outwardly,

butbefore the port 11 begins to open the valve head 21 and the hub 37 closecom' munication between the chamber 10 and the outlet 24, yhence a continuous flow ofliquid through the outlet 24 is prevented.

Any liquid left in the chamber 27 after the hub 37v has closed communication between said chamber and the outlet 24, passes back 'into the chamber 10 through the space between the valve-head 21 andthe inner wall of the chamber 27, since it is a practical impossibility to make a metallic piston of say one-half inch in diameter to fit slidably in a cylinder of exactly the same diameter. Avlvariation of 0.001f of an inch in the dia-meters between the -piston and cylinder equals an area of 0.0007 of a square inch. This is equal to an openin'g B15 of an inch in diameter, which is sutlicient for the passage of the liquid-as above desdribed.

When the outlet is normally closed, as shown in Fig. 2, the valve head fitting piston tight in the charge chamber, the plug valve on the valve stem tting snugly in the bore 20, and the valve head 21 seated on valve seatby the fome of thb'spring, forma triple closure between the main supply of liquid and the outside. YVhenl the valve head islifted from the seat and before the port 11 is fully closed, a double closure exists between the main supply and the outlet.

In-the modified form of liquid dispenser shown in- Figs. 6 and.7 the body 54 is preferably provided with four axially arranged connecting bores or chambers of different diameters as shown at 55, 56, 57 and 58 respectively. A nipple 60 has a screw threaded engagement with the body 54 and is provided with a port 64 similar to the port 11 previously described. A set screw 61 enga-ging an annular-: groove in the nipple retains it in positionf and a packing ring 63 between the body and nipple prevents leakage. The nipple 60 is provided with a standard tapered pipe thread adaptedfor connection with the supply pipe2 as shown in Fig. 1. The bore in which the set screw 61 engages answers the same purposes as to` draining and expelling of air as the drain port previously described in connection with Figs. 1 to 4.' The bore or chamber 56, the diameter of which is slightly smaller than that of the bore 55, accommodates the valve head 68 which cooperates with the valve seat 69.

The extension 82 which serves as a valve plug for closing the'port 64 is shown as screwed into the valve head 68 instead o f being an integral part thereof. The valve head 68 and valve stem 71 are of the same .general construction as that previously described in' connection with Fi 1 to 4. The hub 72 servesas a plug va ve 4for closing communication between the charge chamber 56 and the outlet 84 leading from the bore nih 57 through the nozzle 85 when the valve head :68 is unseated from. the valve seat 69 and port 64 is fully closed by the valve the junction between the bores 55 and 56 may also be made on a slant so as to guide the valve head 68 into the bore 56. v

Fig. 8 illustrates the same type of liquid dispenser shown in Fig. 2 embodying a modified form of valve mechanism and pacln'ng for the valve stem. In this form the valve head 21 and the valve stern 22 are made in two sepa-rate parts so as to permit the use of a cup packing 90 made of leather or other suitable material. vThe valve head 21 at its outer end is provided with an extension 91 of reduced diameter and shaped to fit into the cup 90 so as to leave an annular space 92. The space 92 is lfilled with l1i uid which keeps the cup moist The inner end of the valve stem 22 is provided with a threaded stem 93. The valve head 21 is correspondingly threaded and screwed upon the threaded stem.

A nut 94 is screwed upon the stem 93 tightly against the valve head 21 and prevents the possible unscrewing of the valve head from the valve stem when the dispenser is in use.

The wall o the inner end of the bore is chamfered so -as to prevent the tearing of the cup 90 whenthe dispenser is in use.

rlhe partition 8 having the port 11 is made in the form of a removable plug and the valve plug is screwed into the extension 93 of the valve stem'22.

I claim:

1. In a liquid dispenser, a body provided with a chamber,'an inlet port opening in'to the chamber and a nozzle duct to discharge liquid from saidcliamber, means operative to discharge liquid through the nozzle duct; the body being formed of separate members, one member extending inside of the other and having an annular groove in its periphery, and a screw in the outer member projecting into the annular groove to. serve for venting air from the body and for preventing relative displacement of the members.

2. In a liquid dispenser, a body having a chamber reduced in size at one end; an in- I let yport opening into said chamber and a discharge port leading from the reduced end;

-a plunger located in the reduced end of the ,chamber and adapted to eject liquid from the chamber; said plunger being provided at one end with a valve head to normally close communication between'the chamber and the reduced portion thereof, and at the other end with a stem projecting outside the body; the inner end of the valve head havin a valve for controlling the inlet port; an en arged portion on the plunger adjacent to the valve head forming a Valve for controllingthe outletport, said valves being operated in sequence whereby the Iinlet port is opened only when the outlet port is closed.

3. In a liquid dispenser, a body provided with a chamber, an inlet port opening into and an outlet port opening out of the chamber, the body comprising two separate cylindric members one extending into the other` the inner member having a large `and a small bore, a plunger with a stem fitting the small bore and a head fitting the 'large bore, a

valve actuated by. the plunger to close the inlet on inward motion, and a valve actuated by the plunger to close the outlet when the plunger is at the outer end of its stroke.

Signed at Los, Angeles, California, this 12th day of Au st 1919.

g(i'ruABRIllL A. BOBRICK. 

